Are there any people of color on here? Being behind an anonymous screen name it's hard to know. Because I'm sensing that I'm seeing a lot of white opinions on how people of color are responding to being hurt. If you are not a POC, you do NOT understand. And we have no right to tell them how to respond.
I had a student a few years back who lost his mother to cancer very quickly. He told me the thing that would make him the most upset was his friends saying, "Yeah, I've lost my grandma, I get it," or "Yeah, my uncle died last year, I understand." It took everything in him to not fly off the handle at them and say NO, you have NOT lost your mother, you do NOT understand.
Listen, I'm NOT advocating for violence or destruction. But the only thing white people (including myself) should be doing is supporting people of color, listening to them, and advocating for them. It's NOT enough that the officer was charged. The entire system needs to change. Shitty people are going to take advantage of the chaos. For the most part, it is NOT the protesters doing the looting, vandalism, etc. But to think that a group of people vandalizing negates the whole movement and the whole purpose? Come on. Find a way to support the majority of the people who are not doing that if it bothers you so much.
LISTEN TO POC! Listen, and really HEAR them. Stop assuming you know what's happening or what they're thinking or going through.
(This post is not directed at anyone in particular, but seriously, all of us who are non-POC need to stop and think about our reaction to everything that's happening and consider the lens through which you see the world. I'm really not trying to ruffle any feathers, but I just had to get it off my chest.)
Re-sharing part of this link that I shared before. (More at link and in OP)
I may be one that comes across like that but in no way do I think all of these things. I have said to people many times including my own children how much harder it has to be on those that are born black, for instance, and even then, I would never pretend to know just how bad it has been on someone or can be. Even so, I do believe the looting and vandalizing help nothing and in fact, hinder much, it has not only been that, there have also been more deaths, how is killing someone any better than what these officers did? Also, I in no way know nor think all of the people doing these things are black so that is not the case either.
Comparing not understanding it to the death of a grandparent versus a parent, etc. is true, no one knows who does not live it nor go through it. I felt that way often in our deaths but knew people meant well. The worst was the murder of the child when people compared it to the normal aging loss of a parent OR said who knows what God's plan is? I wanted to say God did NOT do this nor plan this, HE did it (meaning the perp). Again, however, they meant well right?
I am surrounded by people of color and that is a fact and I am the minority in my area (as a white) and I do listen and I do talk to them and everyone for that matter, I don't differentiate. There is a purpose, there is an issue and George Floyd is not it, but just another example of what happens way too often.
We have had no rioting here but just peaceful flower and candle laying for George, a vigil/prayer service and a walk in support.
I also agree that much of it is probably not the protesters, I think there are pushes and politics behind some of it and I think many would do this no matter what the issue and are not the ones protesting for "change" but just criminals of any color (I also mean white which is a color) who would do such things anyhow.
However, it helps nothing. Many people do not have respect for lawlessness, whether it be of the officer's behavior or what is going on now. I don't have much respect for that part of it no matter what the color of who does what.
And sadly, there are those that are racist and already think most blacks are thugs and acting like this will change nothing--not that that type of person is likely to change their thinking anyhow. I just do not see how it furthers a cause to meet law breaking (murder in the case of the cop) with more law breaking (riots, murder, looting, fires, vandalism).
I also feel a sad fact is something is going to have to stop this if it does not stop soon and if the National Guard ends up in every city where it is a problem, then people will be complaining about that. It simply cannot go on. What good also does shooting someone else of color or burning their business do? What kind of point is that?
All that said, I understand and agree with almost everything you said, but for me, it is not the way I look at it and I would never pretend to know what they not only go through but have gone through. My one daughter and I talk about this a lot and we did so before Arbery or Floyd or anything recent.
One last thing is this may have well had to do with race, but part of me does not doubt this officer would have done this to any race, including white, who he felt like doing it to. It happens far more due to race, I understand that, but I haven't yet seen anything that actually shows it was about race. Some of this type of officer like to show their power over ANYONE.
It also stands out to me that Floyd's own friends and family want it to stop so not all feel like this. I get the problem is systemic and it is not just about him but his death is also being somewhat overshadowed imo.
This post is not to argue either but just to discuss and explain if my posts are some that come across that way at all, the other points are certainly not what I think. In my building here, again, I am the minority and I live among at least three other races. I have also seen the attitude, behavior and heard the remarks of some others towards some of them.
I also understand that all that being said, still does not mean I "get" it and I know that. However, I do know that too. None of us have ever lived in the other person's shoes.
All jmo.
www.cnn.com
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